USD underperformed in a holiday thinned.......>

FOREX: USD underperformed in a holiday thinned Asia-Pac session, pressured by

uncertainty stemming from the ongoing gov't shutdown & more pertinently, chatter

of Trump wanting to remove Fed Chair Powell over the weekend (played down by

U.S. admin), in addition to U.S. Tsy Sec Mnuchin "liquidity checking" the

largest U.S. banks via phone calls. Also worth noting that weekend rhetoric out

of China re: U.S. trade matters, pointed to further positive developments,

despite cautious comments from U.S. trade hawk Peter Navarro late Friday.

- AUD outperformed the majors on the +ve rhetoric out of China. Elsewhere, CAD

benefitted from an uptick in oil prices, after weekend comments made by the UAE

energy min, noting that OPEC+ is ready to hold an extraordinary meeting if

required & will do what is needed if the current cut in oil output doesn't

balance the market in '19. The backdrop saw the JPY trade mixed vs. G10, with

USD/JPY 10 or so pips lower at writing.

- Japan was closed for a market holiday, with Australia & HK observing

Christmas-shortened sessions. Adjusted hours are in play across Europe & North

America on Monday, with a very limited economic docket apparent.